Alvarez guitars history4/2/2023 ![]() They're fine instruments, well made instruments, and they tend to look, sound and play as well as any guitars out there. But it makes me a bit uncomfortable because it still kind of implies cheapness. People always say "bang for the buck" about them and that's absolutely true. The newer stuff has always been more of a churn-out-the-sausage sort of thing using more modern/efficient manufacturing processes. Yairi was mostly just trying to make the best guitars he could and mostly served the domestic Japanese market. This is why there is so much confusion: the same brand name is now attached to two entirely different lines of guitars made in entirely different factories and for different purposes. ![]() ![]() Some of these are also nice guitars and good value (I've played a few decent ones for sure), but they aren't in the same league as the earlier Japanese stuff. Some time in the 90s/early 00s the name, which had gone dormant, was spun off and became a name for cheaper chinese imports. ![]() The ones from the 70s before scarcity kicked it are especially nice because of the woods but even after they made great stuff. Truth or fiction? I don't know for sure, but Yairi makes fantastic Martin style guitars. The story is that the head of the company, Kazuo Yairi, moved from Japan to Viriginia and learned his trade at the Martin factory. They no doubt felt that a spanish sounding name would play better over here than a Japanese one would. Alvarez used to be the import/trade name used for Yairi guitars in the North American market. ![]()
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